Web tension control



Dec. 19, 1961 Filed Dec. 16, 1957 J. K. MACOMBER WEB TENSION CONTROL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JAMES K. MACOMBER ATTORNEY 1961 J. K. MACOMBER WEB TENSION CONTROL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 16, 1957 STATION 1 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY 1961 J. K. MACOMBER WEB TENSION CONTROL 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 16, 1957 INVENTOR JAMES KMACOMBER BY "Edam/$1 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,013,740 WEB TENSION ONTRUL James Keith Macomher, Rochvilie Centre, N.Y., assignor to Consolidated Lithographing Corporation, Long Island City, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 16, 1957, Ser. No. 7612,994 6 Claims. (Cl. 242--75.3)

This invention relates to the intermittent feed mechanism for a strip of ribbon, or banding material, or the like, in a wrapping machine. Although the invention may be adapted to wrapping machines generally, it is described herein as being comprised in a machine for wrapping cigars in cellophane packages which have a cigar wrapper tear band to serve as easy means of removing the wrapper and of identifying the cigar brand. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved electromagnetically controlled roller means for the tear band ribbon feed. It is also an object to include a friction controlled supply reel for the tear bands. These objects and others, as well as their advantages, will appear below in the specification.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the tear band ribbon supply reel 24, and a suspended tension plate 36, around which the tear band ribbon 21 is guided.

FIGURE 2 is a partial cross section of the feed portion of my device through which the tear band ribbon and the web of cellophane are fed, cut, nicked, and folded into a pocket at the first station of the turret, and the tear band ribbon 21 shown at the upper rig-ht hand portion of FIGURE 4 is a continuation of the ribbon 21 shown at the lower lefthand portion of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 3 is a cross section of the supply reel 24 as shown along the lines 5-5 in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 4 is a partial rear elevation of portions of the feed mechanism of my device including the photoelectric tube casing 51 and adjustable assembly 84 as seen from the lines 66 in FIGURE 4, but leaving out the drive roller.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The basic wrapping machine may be of the type disclosed in Patent No. 1,964,411, granted June 26, 1934, on application of Robert Jacob Beutel. Although the mentioned patent discloses a cigar cellophaning machine with a six position turret, my improvements may be combined with a six position turret machine, a four position turret machine, or one with any desired number of turret positions. This is because my invention is concerned with operations prior to and during the step when the tear strip band and cellophane wrapper blank are pushed into the wrapping pocket at the first position of the turret.

In Beutels device, a web of cellophane is intermittently fed laterally into the machine and cut, and then folded around the cigar in one of a number of folding pockets which take different stations in an intermittently rotating 7 turret. The ends of the wrapper are tucked in and it is heat sealed around the cigar. Thus the cigar will be wrapped in a cellophane package heat sealed at the ends and along the longitudinal seam.

A charging device, comprising paired pushers and transfer arms, pushes the cigar into the cut cellophane blank and on into one of the said pockets, and the cellophane thereby is folded around three sides of the cigar.

Since the machine disclosed in the mentioned Patent No. 1,964,411 is used as the basic machine in the preferred form of my invention in combination with my new features, I will rely on the disclosure in the mentioned patent and incorporate same herein by reference as if fully set forth herein. The various components which I "ice set forth herein as a part of my'invention are attached to the main frame of a machine such as Beutels. They may also be incorporated in combination, with other wrapping machines such as disclosed in Patent No. 1,796,- 073, granted March 10, 1931, on application of said Robert J. Beutel, and others, without departing from the spirit and principles of my invention.

Beutels machine is merely a cigar wrapping machine. It does not band the cigar. I have provided means, as a part of my invention, to feed, cut, and hold cigar label tear bands transversely to the cellophane wrapper blank.

In operation of the machine, aweb of cellophane 15 is fed by intermittent drive into guide channels 16 and 17. A wrapping blank 13 of the proper size is cut oif by a knife 19 which is operated by a cam actuated oscillating shaft 20, which is driven by a link 34 as shown, or may be driven from the main shaft of the machine, in any other manner.

A. length of paper tear strip band ribbon 21 is fed transversely to the web 15 by means of rollers 22 and 23. A supply reel 24' holds a roll of the tear band ribbon 21. The reel 24 has a hub 25 and a hubcap 26, each of which has reel guides 27 to retain the roll of band ribbon 21 in place. The rolled band ribbon 21 is first placed on the hub 25 of the reel and held in place by the hubcap 26. The hub 25 has sintered bronze bushings 28 which act as bearings on the steel shaft 29.

The tear band ribbon 21 is fed under a thin curved steel tension plate 34} mounted on a springy wire 31 and is then fed over a ramp 32 through a braking mechanism 33, by and between the drive rollers 22 and idler 23, and then down past a photoelectric tube casing 51. The tear band ribbon 21 is stopped when its end is adjacent to the lower edge of the web of cellophane 15.

The tear band ribbon 21 is composed of a printed series of individual labels or tear bands 35. Each printed tear band is approximately as long as the width of the web of cellophane 15. The band 35 is cut slightly above the upper edge of the cellophane 15.

The action of a photoelectric system stops the feeding of the tear band ribbon 21 by means and method which will be described hereinbelow. The tear band 35 is then cut from the band ribbon 21. Simultaneously, the wrapping blank 18 is nicked adjacent to the position of the band 35 and a pair of operating arms 36, and pushers 37 bring up the cigar 10. The operating arms 36 are spring held, as shown in Beutel, and are stopped by a stop rod 38. The pushers 37 continue to push the cigar 10 into the tear band 35 and the wrapping blank 18 and with them into a pocket 39 at station I of the turret. The pocket 39 then rotates to the various stations of the turret to complete the folding and heat sealing and then to deliver the banded cigar, wrapped in a tear band package.

The tear band ribbon 21 is drawn from the supply reel 24 by means of the action of a drive roller 22 and an idler 23. The drive roller 22 is affixed to a shaft 40 which is powered from the main drive of the wrapping machine and rotates intermittently. The idler roller 23 rotates only when it is impressed by means of flat steel springs 41 against the roller 22. The action of the drive roller 22 is intermittent; however, it will supply more tear band ribbon 21 than is required for an individual tear band 35 unless its feeding action is stopped when the proper amount is supplied. When it is desired to stop the movement of the ribbon 21, the roller 23 is lifted against the action of the springs 41 by means of an ment ceases. It is essential that the movement stop almost instantaneously. A spring 43 operated felt brake 44 is 3 provided to hold the ribbon 21 against a brake block 45. Thus, when the magnet 42 lifts the idler 23, the braking mechanism 33 (comprising elements 43, 44 and d5), which is always in operation, stops the movement in a minute fraction of an inch.

Thus, the tear band ribbon 21 is fed with an intermittent motion which alternately moves quickly and stops abruptly. This leads to excessive unreeling of the ribbon 21 if the reel 24 is permitted to rotate freely. On the other hand, the use of a usual type of mechanical reel brake adjusted for a full heavy roll of ribbon 21 would be unsatisfactory when the roll becomes lighter as it unrcels and empties.

This problem has been somewhat compensated for in the past by the use of a power feed unreeling device which is stopped if the loop of the unreeling ribbon 21 should drop below a certain point as measured by an electric eye, for example. However, that system is both costly and undesirable because the parts are expensive and require constant maintenance.

I have found that by using the sintered bronze bushings 28 as a bearing on the fixed steel shaft 29, the reel 24 will pay out the tear band ribbon 21 at the proper rate. It will supply sufficient tear band ribbon 21 for the intermittent action of the device, without overrunning the braking action.

The bushing 28 is not lubricated, and its friction resistance always is nearly proportional to the weight of the ribbon 21 remaining on the reel 24. There is greater frictional resistance for a full reel 24 than a nearly empty one.

The thin curved steel tension plate 30 and the springy wire 31 cooperate to translate the intermittent motion of the drive into a smooth, steady, continuous unreeling of the supply reel 24.

It is "in almost all instances desirable to imprint the trademark or other identifying means on the outside of the cigar band. The ribbon passes over the brake block 45 with the printed, ink side, down. 'I have found that the constant pressure of the felt brake 44 causes the ink to smear a brake block 45 made of steel. I have experimented with other materials, and found that because of the friction involved, the ink would almost invariably smear and come off.

I solved this problem by looking for a material which affords low friction resistance. I found such a material put out by Du Pont called Teflon. Teflon is a fluorocarbon, against which there is very little friction. Hardly any other material will adhere to Teflon, and I have found that by using it as a brake block 45 there will be no ink smear. The ink remains on the tear band ribbon 21 in good order.

The action of raising and lowering the idler roller 23 is controlled by a photoelectric device as follows: There is a light source 46. The rays of light pass through a lens system 47, are reflected downward by the upper end 48 of a rhomboid prism, and are again reflected by the lower end 49 of the rhomboid prism, so that they travel through the path of the tear band ribbon 21 and then through a slit 50, into a photoelectric tube casing 51, at which point they are picked up by a photoelectric cell 52.

The bands 35 of the band ribbon 21 are printed in such fashion that at one point on each band 35 there is a heavy mark which interrupts the path of light from the light source 46 to the photoelectric tube 52. A usual type of selector switch, not shown, is employed to make the photoelectric system sensitive just before the mark arrives at the slit 50. When the mark arrives at the slit 50, the action of a photoelectric cell 52 through a suitable electronic system, which is not shown, closes the circuit of the electromagnet 42, thereby lifting the idler roller 23. The mark is placed at the proper position on each band 35 so that the light rays between the light source 46 and the photoelectric tube 52 will be in the machine to the width of the web of cellophane 15.-

l accomplish this by measuring the distance of the end of band ribbon 21, when it is in the desired position for cutting, from the slit 5t and I register each mark a minute fraction of an inch below the point of meeting the slit 50. Thus, when the circuit of the magnet 42 is energized by the electronic system connected to the photo electric tube 52, the band ribbon 21 is brought to a complete stop within the mentioned minute fraction of an inch. The band ribbon Z1 is placed between the cigar 1t and the cellophane 15, with the printed side away from the cigar 10 and toward the cellophane 15.

I have not described the mentioned electronic system because any kind or type of relay or other electrical system may be used to close the circuit in the electromagnet 42 at a signal from the photoelectric tube 52. The only requirement is that the relay or other system be quick-acting and positive, since any breakdown or faulty operation will prevent the machine from functioning properly.

The continuous quick lifting of the idler roller 23 places stress on its bearings 57. I have provided nylon strike pads 58 against which the bearing tops 59 strike. This not only prevents the roller 23 from actually striking and damaging the magnet 42, but also absorbs considerable shock resulting from the quick movement of the roller 23.

The bearings 57 include a nylon bushing 60, and are lubricated by permanently oiled, felt packings 61 held against them by clips 62. My construction of the bear ings 57 provides for automatic self alignment of the roller 23 with the roller 22. I accomplish this by providing universal spring mountings for the bearings 57. The springs 4-1 are freely attached to the connecting portions 5711 between the bearings 57 and the bearing tops 59. There is no play between the non-seizing nylon bushings 60 and the shaft extensions 63 of the roller 23.

This universal mounting of the bearings 57 provides for three relatively perpendicular degrees of rotational freedom of the roller shaft extensions 63. First the bearings 57 can turn in the springs 41. Second the springs 41 can twist through small angles. Third the shaft extensions 63 are free to rotate in the nylon bushings 60. Thus when the roller 23 i pressed down onto the ribbon 21 and on the roller 22 by the action of the springs 41, the rollers are automatically aligned with their axes parallel, without cramping and seizing of the bearings 57.

I have set forth my new electromagnetic intermittent feed means and frictional supply reel control for a wrapping and banding machine in the form which I find preferable. The principles concerned with my improved machine and constructions thereunder may take forms other than the preferred form set forth herein, and I desire to be protected for all forms which may come within the scope of the claims below.

Wherefore, I claim:

1. In a device for feeding a portion of ribbon intermittently, a ribbon feed comprising a drive roller and an idler mounted on the main frame of the device, spring means and self-aligning bearings associated with the said idler roller to maintain the said rollers in axial alignment and face contacting relation with a strip of ribbon between them; and electromagnetic means to provide direct attraction between said electromagnetic means and said idler roller to move said idler roller against the forces exerted by the said spring means to separate the said idler roller from the said drive roller so that the rollers will cease to feed the ribbon.

2. The intermittent ribbon drive mechanism as defined in claim 1, in combination with a braking mechanism comprising a brake and a brake block mounted on the main frame of the device which hold the ribbon between them to stop the ribbon when the rollers are forced apart.

3. In a device for supplying portions of a ribbon-like strip of material to a machine having intermittent feed means for said strip of material, a supply reel mounted on the main frame of the device by means of at least one bearing of friction material and a shaft, and a tension member spring-mounted on said main frame for engaging said strip of material between said supply reel and said machine so that as the machine draws off portions of the ribbon-like strip intermittently from the supply reel, the diminishing action of the friction of the bearing against the shaft, coacting with the spring-mounted tension member, will permit the supply reel to deliver the proper amount of material smoothly and evenly, to compensate for the intermittent motion.

4. The device as defined in claim 3, having a friction brake between the spring mounted tension member and the intermittent feed means which provides the drive for feeding the strip of material.

5. In a device for feeding a portion of ribbon intermittently, the combination of: a ribbon feed comprising a drive roller and a driven roller mounted on the the frame of the device, spring means associated with the said driven roller exerting forces to maintain said rollers in parallel axial alignment and face contacting relation with a strip of ribbon between them, and electromagnetic means to provide direct attraction between said electromagnetic means and said driven roller to move said driven roller against the forces exerted by the said spring means to separate the said driven roller from the said drive roller so that the rollers will cease to feed theribbon; with a brake comprising a plurality of braking surfaces associated with the ribbon to stop the ribbon when the rollers are separated.

6. In a device for feeding a portion of ribbon intermittently, a ribbon feed comprising a drive roller and an idler roller mounted on the frame of the device, spring means associated with the said idler roller exerting forces to maintain the said rollers in parallel axial alignment References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 745,240 Roland Nov. 24, 1903 1,203,592 De Escobales Nov. 7,1916 1,240,631 Trier Sept. 18, 1917 1,617,560 Aldrich et al Feb. 15, 1927 1,978,589 McFarlane Oct. 30, 1934 2,130,729 Burns Sept. 20, 1938 2,189,347 Martin Feb. 6, 1940 2,190,189 Neumair Feb. 13, 1940 2,228,854 Spencer Jan. 14, 1941' 2,273,961 Hoppe Feb. 24, 1942 2,346,194 Sjostrom Apr. 11, 1944 2,611,224 Jensen Sept. 23, 1952 2,639,567 Murdoch et al. May 26, 1953 2,763,481 Hackett Sept. 18, 1956 2,788,209 Montijo Apr. 9, 1957 2,819,072 Wittek Jan. 7, 1958 2,854,234 Cotton Sept. 30, 1958 

